The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
